Giants get a backup for Eli by taking Nassib

Sunday

Apr 28, 2013 at 2:00 AM

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — While they filled big needs on the offensive and defensive lines and added some help in the secondary and at running back, the biggest news the Giants made in the NFL draft will filling a need they seemingly never need — backup quarterback.

The Associated Press

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — While they filled big needs on the offensive and defensive lines and added some help in the secondary and at running back, the biggest news the Giants made in the NFL draft will filling a need they seemingly never need — backup quarterback.

The Giants created a little buzz early Saturday, making a trade to move up and grab Syracuse quarterback Ryan Nassib as a backup for two-time Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning.

"If he doesn't ever play, that would be great," general manager Jerry Reese said after the pick. "That's a good problem to have. If he needs to play, we're hoping that whatever time that is that he'll be up and ready to go if it ever happens that way."

Being Manning's backup is akin to not playing. Manning has started 135 straight regular-season games and 11 consecutive postseason contests. The last player to start for New York other than Manning was Kurt Warner in 2004.

Veteran David Carr has been Manning's backup in recent years and just the latest veteran to back up the 32-year-old Manning. That could change this year if Nassib beats out Carr or Tom Coughlin elects to go with three quarterbacks on his roster, something that he hasn't done in recent years.

Entering the fourth round, Reese said Nassib, who started the past three years for the Orange, stuck out like a sore thumb.

"He had too much value," Reese said. "We had been talking about developing a quarterback to back up Eli for a while and this was the perfect opportunity for us to get a young quarterback with a lot of talent."

Nassib completed 791 of 1,312 passes for 9,190 yards and 70 touchdown passes with the Orange, leading them to 21 wins in three seasons as a starter.

The 23-year-old wasn't shy when asked about his abilities. He's confident and said that he is somewhat like Manning in that he was durable in his final three years in college, never missing a game or a practice. He was admittedly disappointed staying on the board until the fourth round.

"I always compared myself to Eli so it is going to be crazy that I am going to be playing with him," Nassib said. "He is a tough, durable, smart guy who doesn't say much. That's the kind of quarterback I always wanted to be. Being able to sit behind him and learn from him, like some great quarterbacks did in the past, an elite veteran like Aaron Rodgers, it's going to be a great opportunity for me."

The other selections on Saturday were safety Cooper Taylor of Richmond, Eric Herman of Ohio University and UMass running back Michael Cox, who was taken with the penultimate pick.